Do you need to stock up on everyday items for when you're in a hurry? Whether you need quick on the go organics for work, travel, or to stock your store, here are some of the best organics for on the go.

You may be considering buying organic food online. But you may also be unsure of how much you may gain from not just purchasing organic products from your local retailer. Here’s why you should buy organic food online.

Buy in Bulk to Save Money Later

One of the biggest benefits to buying organic food online is that you can buy in bulk. While you may pay more upfront, you save in overall price for the quantity you are buying.

Wider Selection of Products

Many people research products online before actually purchasing. At your local organic food retailer, you are limited by the products that they choose to carry. But from an online retailer, you are usually going to be offered far more options, some of which you may have never found locally.

Easy to Research

Since you’re already online, it’s easy to look up reviews of products you’re thinking of buying or simply search the site of an organic retailer. This sort of research may not be something you would go about doing while shopping in a brick-and-mortar store.

Better Coupons & Discounts

Oftentimes, when shopping brick & mortar stores, it can be more difficult to find discounts on organics. When shopping for organics online, the organic retailer itself may offer discounts and coupons.

There are only so many landfills that we can fill up, and only so many parks we can build over massive parcels of buried garbage. What we really need to do is recycle as much as possible. We will talk about 5 household items that may seem destined for a dump but can actually be recycled with ease.

Athletic Shoes

Surprisingly, we as a nation go a through a lot of these. I think that’s a pretty good sign, we are becoming an active lot.

However, old running shoes are filling up landfills. What you can do is discard your shoes by throwing them in one of Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe recycling bin. Nike uses these old shoes to turn into a raw material called Nike Grind which is used to make everything from running tracks to shoe soles to zippers.

Bicycles

Americans send more than 15 million bicycles to the graveyard each year. Rather than throwing them in the dump, you can give your trusted steeds a second life by donating them to Bikes for the World. These guys collect and refurbish old bikes and then donate them to lower-income people in developing countries.

So the next time your child outgrows his/her bike, do not dump it, donate it. You will have effectively recycled and added one more good deed to your list.

Bras

There comes a time in every woman’s life when she has to discard her bra and get a new better one (one which hopefully does not cut into the shoulders). But bras aren’t something women will be tossing on the “to donate pile”. Surprisingly, Bosom Buddy Program is a recycling company in Arizona which takes old bras for recycling. They spruce up old bras and then donate them to women’s shelters or other programs.

Crocs

Crocs are awesome. These are something the kids have not found a way to destroy. Crocs are one of the very few wearables that the kids actually outgrow instead of destroying. However the landfills are starting to get filled with these.

Croc Cares takes in your old Crocs and recycles them into used Crocs into new shoes and then donated underprivileged families.

Crayons

Our landfills are getting quite colorful. We produce over 120,000 pounds of crayons each year. The National Crayon Recycle Program will recycle your rejected crayons and then turn them into new ones. So far this program has diverted more than 88,000 crayons from landfills.

If all of us tighten the reins around the house, soon we will be seeing the day when all of the garbage collectors will have put the sign “used dump trucks available for sale”.

Author Bio:

Barney Whistance is a passionate Finance, Heavy Machinery and Lifestyle blogger who loves to write about prevailing trends. You can find him using Twitter and LinkedIn.

How many times have we seen perfectly good furniture and other household items simply discarded? Well, the trend of upcycling has become increasingly popular among artisans, hobbyists, and others, and that’s a good thing. In mid-October 2015, Zero Waste Scotland launched a social media campaign to inspire upcycling called “Design Doc.” This is cool news, and I’d love to see more programs like this. But what stood out to me was my introduction to the concept of a “circular economy” through the comments of Scotland’s Environmental Minister, Dr. Aileen McLeod:

“The Design Doctor campaign is an ideal fit with the Scottish Government’s approach to creating a more circular economy in Scotland.

“The attraction of a more circular approach to our economy – where we keep materials flowing through the economy at as high a value as possible, for as long as possible – is that it tackles a number of economic, environmental, social and moral imperatives.”

You have to give them a reason. Scotland has a system in place already to help people be rid of their unwanted items. Dr. McLeod mentions the Revolve program, which gives second-hand goods sellers a re-use quality standard. She adds:

“The pieces destined for upcycling will be sourced from a range of second-hand stores accredited by ‘Revolve’ – a re-use quality standard for shops who sell second hand goods in Scotland.

“Scotland’s Revolve programme is a great way to empower people to upcycle household items instead of throwing them away – and this is a concept that makes sense for business, industry, the public sector, and individuals.”

This is a really cool thing that Scotland is doing for their country, and I’d love to see more countries adopt this model of thinking. Upcycling has already become quite trendy in the fashion and interior design worlds, and properly supported, it could become an extremely profitable industry that also helps the planet. Imagine a world where you could unload your unwanted furniture and other goods with reusable material or purpose for some extra income. Sure, dumpster diving can be fun, and many upcyclers love the treasure hunt. But think of how much we could keep out of landfills and allow upcyclers an endless source of materials with which to work if more programs were in place to make it easy to be rid of things in a better fashion.

The fact is that the world’s resources are finite, and human beings are most definitely creative enough to work with what we’ve already created for the most part. Having a “Revolve” program in place in the US and other countries would minimize waste to a great degree, helping sift out what is truly unusable and basically scrap and what can be actually saved. Such a venture should be able to essentially fund itself, as upcyclers will be happy to pay a minimal amount to not have to dig through landfills and drive around all day searching sidewalks on trash day. Not only does that save gas, but it makes things a lot more convenient and offers even more creative outlets.

There are upcycling shops cropping up all over the place, but it would be great to see them showing up in more communities all over America and the world. Our world needs to find ways to be more sustainable, and it’s clear that upcycling is already a profitable business if you know where to source your materials. The easier that sourcing can be made, with a grassroots or perhaps even a government-sponsored program like Scotland’s, the less we’re polluting the planet and the more we’re saving quality goods that just need repurposing or a simple facelift.

Of course, what it really comes down to is that people need to change their mindset about what an unwanted or imperfect piece of furniture or older household goods that may still have a little life left in them. Even something that is broken is material for something else. If people can think more like upcyclers, the benefits could help everyone. All I think most people need is to be able to visualize things in a new way and the more upcycling programs we have, the more I believe this will be able to happen.

In light of the news about GMO (genetically modified) cotton coming from Argentina, it's more important than ever that we be mindful of what we're putting against our skin. GMO Inside recently shared that almost 100 percent of the GMO cotton in tampons, gauze pads and swabs contains Glyphosate., better known as the herbicide commonly known as Roundup.. Who wants to be putting that against their skin? Fortunately, there is already movement on growing cotton organically. Non-GMO Report recently shared this news about the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative. But organic cotton products are still just entering the market.

How many times have you seen people throw out furniture that can still be used just because they got something new? How many times have you done it yourself? Go green and upcycle that so-called junk to prevent it from going into a landfill too soon.

Check Craigslist's free section. Among the sales and want ads, Craigslist also has a section with people offering items for free. Many times they stick the items by the dumpster and they get thrown out before anyone can make use of them. Not a great way to go green, is it? Whether you rescue one item or do it regularly, you will be helping. Rescue the items for yourself, your friends, those in need, and the Earth.Repurpose old items. Take your own old items or those you may have found on Craigslist or elsewhere and use them for something new. For instance, if you get a new entertainment center, but your old one can still be used (even if it needs to be pieced back together), you can use it for another reason. Turn it into a decorative shelf where you can store your plants, books, and more. Refinish an old table or just drape a cloth over it and use it for decorative purposes. Saw an old table in half and add legs to each new half to create two desks. There are so many different options.If you can't use it, be green and donate it. If you really just cannot use the item, consider donating it to the less fortunate. Think of people you know who are in need first. But if none of them can use the items, upcycle by donating to organizations. Many programs give used furniture, clothing, baby items, household items, and more to those in need. Chances are that what you may consider junk could be exactly what someone else needs but is unable to get at the moment.If you need the extra money, garage sale it. Donating is a good deed. But if you're strapped for cash, hold a garage sale. You'll still be helping someone by offering something at a lower price than the original sticker. Why throw things away when you can fulfill a need, make some money, and prevent waste at the same time?Don't let good things go to waste. If you're walking around the neighborhood and see perfectly good items being thrown out, rescue them. Even if you can't use the items yourself, save them from unnecessary destruction. Find someone who needs the items or sell them in a yard sale. Even post your own Craigslist ad if you can't figure out what to do with them. At least you will be biding the Earth some time and possibly helping someone in need of the item.

Going Green in the Bathroom

Your bathtub tiles are growing mold, the floor could use some help, and let's not get started on that toilet. But wait! Before you reach for chlorine bleach and other common household chemicals, think green. There are many green ways to sanitize your bathroom. Here are some of my favorites.ThymeThis natural disinfectant helps keep the bathroom clean and germ-free. It also gives off a fresh scent. Mix one part thyme oil to 8 parts water in a spray bottle. Simply spray down the surface and wipe clean with a cloth. When cleaning with thyme oil, be sure you are in a well-ventilated area. Open bathroom windows or turn on an exhaust fan. Also allow the surface to dry thoroughly. Thyme is a very powerful disinfectant.Tea Tree OilSome people think of chemical disinfectants as more effective in the bathroom than natural ones. However, tea tree oil can be much stronger than chemical solutions when it comes to killing bacteria. It has even shown effective in fighting MRSA when used by infected patients. To use tea tree oil in fighting bathroom germs, mix and use it in the same way as the thyme oil solution above.Lemon Juice

Lemon juice has long been used as a natural disinfectant. In certain situations, it can even be used as a biocide in drinking water. To use lemon juice as a bathroom disinfectant, simply mix 1 part lemon juice concentrate to 4 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray on counters, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and more for cleaning purposes. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, spray again and wipe clean. This helps destroy germs and many types of bacteria.Vinegar

Vinegar can be used as a natural disinfectant for many situations. It is very effective at cleaning many different types of soil. In one study, when tested along with commercial cleaning products, vinegar was on the list for the most effective at cleaning both bathroom soil and kitchen soil. It is best used at full, undiluted strength - not the strength commonly found in supermarkets. Garden centers and feed suppliers are most likely to sell the full strength vinegar.Hydrogen Peroxide

Need to whiten and brighten an area of your bathroom? Ditch the bleach and use hydrogen peroxide instead. Mix a half and half solution of water and hydrogen peroxide in a solid colored spray bottle. Spray onto desired areas, let sit for a few minutes, spray again, and wipe clean. This solution may bleach colored surfaces. Test an inconspicuous area before use. This is a greener way to bleach than with chlorine-based products.*Note that the author is not a licensed health professional. Some ingredients, while natural, can cause allergic reactions or other ill effects if used improperly. The above advice is meant for informational purposes only and should not take the place of advice from a licensed professional.**I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

How to Remove Tea Stains Naturally

Did you know that you can remove tea stains naturally? Tea can stain many surfaces, such as clothing, countertops and furniture. But it's not always so hard to remove it. You can even be eco-friendly while doing so. I live a natural and eco-friendly lifestyle to the best of my ability and have experimented with many natural ways to remove tea and other stains.Naturally Remove Tea Stains from Clothing The first natural way to remove tea from clothing is very simple. Run the stained area under cold water for several minutes. If you catch the stain soon enough, this should do the trick. Otherwise, try a vinegar rinse. Fill the sink with a half and half solution of vinegar and water. Swish the stained clothing around in the water for a few minutes. Rinse with cold water. If the stain doesn't disappear, add some eco-friendly liquid detergent to the water. If it's extra tough, gently rub some directly into the stain. Again, swish the clothing around in the water. Repeat this until the stain is gone. Rinse with cold water. For an even tougher stain, place a dry cloth underneath the stained area. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the stain and pour a small amount of vinegar on top. Dab with another dry cloth. This should push the stain out onto the cloth. Repeat this until the stain is gone and of course, rinse with cold water.Eco-Friendly Tea Stain Removers for Carpet and Furniture To remove tea stains from carpets and furniture the eco-friendly way, get out some vinegar, baking soda, a spray bottle, and some cloths. To create a cleaning solution, mix vinegar and water half and half in a spray bottle. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the stained area. Spray the area with your natural vinegar and water solution. As the stain is bubbling up, dab it away with the dry cloths. Repeat this process until it's gone. Once done, rinse the treated area by dabbing it with regular water from a cold, wet cloth. Dry it by dabbing with a dry cloth.Remove Tea from Kitchen Surfaces the Natural WayTo remove tea from countertops, you're going to use the same vinegar and water solution mentioned above for carpets and furniture. First, try spraying and lightly wiping away the area with a dry cloth. If that doesn't work, sprinkle on some baking soda. Then, spray again. As the solution bubbles, dab away the tea stain it pulls up. This same method works well on kitchen stove tops and most floor surfaces, such as linoleum, tile, and hardwood. Remember that hardwood cannot stay wet for long, so if your kitchen floor is hardwood, do this quickly and be sure to dry it well right afterward.

As more and more corn is being converted into fuel, we forget that corn is a food source, and the biofuel industry is taking its toll on the poor in such places as Guatemala. The increasing corn exports to the United States is hurting the local population with the increasing cost of food, mainly corn. Corn is the main ingredient in making tortillas, and where 15 cents once bought eight tortillas, now it only buys four. And eggs have tripled in price because chickens eat cornfeed and that also contributes to the vicious cycle.

In rural areas, food farmers struggle to find places to sow seeds for corn crops for human consumption because the land is at a premium in this poor country that has bowed down to the call for bio-fuels. One farmer was planting corn in the median of a narrow highway with trucks zooming by because he has to feed his family. The recent laws in the United States and Europe mandate the increasing use of biofuels in automobiles which has had far reaching effects as land once used for food for humans, has become more valuable for growing the corn needed for vehicle fuel. And not only has this become a problem in Guatemala, but the same type of situation exist in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

With its corn based diet and proximity to the U.S., Central America has long been at the mercy of the U.S.’s corn policy, since America uses 40 percent of its corn crop to make biofuels. Most of Guatemalans good land is owned by just a few families, and is used to produce the raw materials needed to make biofuels which is not only corn, but sugar cane and African palms. With less food crops being planted, and the high cost of what food there is, 50 percent of the Guatemalan children are malnourished, and according to the United Nations, that’s the fourth-highest in the world. With mandates that dictates that all fuels must contain 10 percent biofuels to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, the benefactors as usual, are the large oil companies that are making money hand over fist.

The demand for bio-fuels has some countries in that well known “catch 22”, with the sugar industry employing 60,000 workers, and the palm industry employing 17,000 and with a poor economy, jobs are a blessing. But that's not doing a thing for those that live in the poorest part of these participating countries who need food not biofuel. Somehow we as a world will have to come up with a reasonable compromise to battle global warming, and still let no one go hungry.

We might think of our kitchens as the one place in the house that's just going to be full of waste no matter what we do. Energy efficient appliances still use a ton of energy. Food still spoils no matter how quickly we try to eat it. In your quest to reduce your waste and your impact on the environment, you might have resigned yourself to the idea that there's just no such thing as an eco-friendly kitchen. But take a look at some of these ways you can further reduce your waste, and make your kitchen more eco-friendly overall.

Replacing appliances Often, when we think of making our kitchens more eco-friendly, we think of replacing older appliances with newer, energy-efficient ones. If you're in the market for new appliances, look for ones that have an Energy Star rating. Appliances with the Energy Star rating are designed to be more energy efficient without trading off functionality. You can find out which appliances and brands have an Energy Star rating here.

Don't Preheat If you have a newer oven, then preheating is virtually unnecessary. For certain dishes that are very sensitive, obviously, you'll need to preheat, because those are the dishes where even thirty seconds means the difference between perfect, and complete disaster. For dishes that aren't this sensitive, though, you can usually put them in the oven after only a minute or so, and they'll cook just as well.Treehugger recommends also cooking more than one dish at a time. This is especially good for things that cook at the same temperature, but for different amounts of time. You can also experiment with dishes that are supposed to cook at temperatures within 50 degrees of each other, to see how to cook them together. Using toaster ovens and microwaves for smaller dishes, or reheating, will also save a lot of energy.

Keep fruits and veggies separate Certain fruits and vegetables go bad more quickly when they're stored together. For instance, potatoes spoil more quickly when they're stored with onions. Same thing happens when you store green bananas and ripe bananas together. Storing apples or apricots with spinach will likewise make the spinach spoil faster, because fruit emits ethylene gas as it ripens, which is bad for vegetables. There are a lot of combinations, so check out this guide for how best to store a wide variety of common produce, to make your produce last longer and reduce waste.

Compost eggshells, spoiled food, and other food scraps It goes without saying that composting is one of the best ways to recycle food. If you have your own vegetable, herb, and/or flower garden, composting becomes an important part of keeping those healthy, too. You can also use compost on your lawn and in your house plants. Composting is becoming extremely popular as we become more environmentally conscious, aware of food waste, and aware of the damage landfills and garbage incinerators cause. Food scraps are the number one material sent to landfills, according to an article in The Huffington Post, and accounts for one-third of all residential trash. Not only are you saving the world and recycling food waste to either grow more food, or give your house more curb appeal, but composting is ridiculously easy. Go here to learn how to make a compost bin, and how to start composting.

These methods can help to reduce the waste that your kitchen produces, making your house greener, and reducing your overall carbon footprint.

Eve-Angeline Mitchell is an experienced writer and blogger, and an animal rights and welfare advocate. She has been writing about cats, from pet cats to feral cats, to the history between cats and people, and even about big cats, on Examiner.com for four years. She is also an avid do-it-yourselfer when it comes to home improvement and enjoys learning how to do new things.

By Eve-Angeline Mitchell, Contributing Writer So you've found ants in your house, and you want to get rid of them. You've decided, however, that professional pest control, Raid, and other chemical poisons, aren't the way to go. Perhaps you're worried about making your pets or children sick, or you're worried about how these things affect the environment. So what do you do to get rid of the ants? Check out these five eco-friendly methods for making your ant problem go away.

Vinegar Vinegar's a great resource for more than just cooking, and it's quite eco-friendly, so it won't harm the environment. It also won't make your pets or children sick if they happen to come into contact with it. How do you use it to get rid of ants? Natural website Everyday Roots says that using vinegar can disrupt the scent trails that ants use to show each other the way to food sources. All you need is one part white vinegar, one part water, and a clean cloth or a spray bottle (or both). Simply wipe down and/or spray all the areas where the ants are getting into your house. Then make sure that food sources are sealed up, to ensure they don't come back.

Lemon Juice Lemon juice is another substance that disrupts ants' scent trails. Both the scent of the lemon juice and the acid work to accomplish that, so spray it where you see ants coming into your house. You should also use it to wipe down all your door and window frames, and you may want to look outside for the colony, and spray it on all the paths they're using out there. You can also use an eyedropper or Q-tip to put a few drops inside the hole(s) where they're getting into your house.

Diatomaceous Earth (horticultural grade)The Vegetable Gardener recommends horticultural-grade diatomaceous earth as a way to get rid of ants wherever you'd prefer they not be. There are several different grades, so be sure of what you're buying if you're buying it to get rid of an ant problem. Food grade will work too, and is also safe. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to you, your pets, your kids, and the environment (though you may want to wear a dust mask when you apply it), but it gets rid of ants at their source. Author Chris McLaughlin doesn't quite know how it does that, just that it does work, though it may take several days. It's cheap, and since it's so eco-friendly, you can spread it liberally around the outside of your house, in your garden, on your patio, and even in the backs of your cupboards and pantry if need be.

Baking soda This is actually a three-part mixture of baking soda, powdered sugar, and dry, active yeast. The powdered sugar is the lure, and the yeast and baking soda are the poison. An article on e-How says to sprinkle the baking soda everywhere you see the ants, because they won't cross those lines (you could also try chalk for this part). The point of that is to direct them to where your baking soda-sugar-yeast mixture is. Once they're there, they'll consume some of the mixture, and they'll carry it back to the nest. Baking soda and yeast are poisonous to ants, so this method should help to kill the whole nest, and eliminate the problem. This, also, won't happen instantaneously, so be patient and remember that you might have to renew your mixture every few days

Cornmeal Ants can't digest cornmeal, but they do try to eat it. They also take it back to their nest to feed the queen. If their primary food source is cornmeal, then they'll starve themselves to death, according to gardener Susan Patterson on Gardening Know How. However, this method can take awhile; as much as a week can pass before you see any difference in the number of ants. Because of that, cornmeal is best used outside at the source, with a deterrent like one of the above used inside to keep them away from your food and pets.

All of these are great ways to get rid of an ant problem without having to worry about harming the environment, or your family and pets. Try using some in combination with one another to address a major ant problem. They're far better and safer than chemical pesticides.

Eve-Angeline Mitchell is an experienced writer and blogger, and an animal rights and welfare advocate. She has been writing about cats, from pet cats to feral cats, to the history between cats and people, and even about bit cats, on Examiner.com for four years. She is also an avid do-it-yourselfer when it comes to home improvement and enjoys learning how to do new things.

According to a short article on Autos.com, biodegradable car wash is one way you can help the environment, even when washing your car. Simple Green has some great car soap that's safer for the environment than ordinary car soap. There are some great biodegradable car washes elsewhere on the web, also, including Green Earth Technologies' car wash, available at Amazon.com.

Non-toxic, biodegradable washer fluidRegular windshield washer fluid is often made of methyl alcohol (methanol) and wood alcohol, according to Earth Easy. Billions of gallons of the stuff are sprayed all over the place all the time, particularly in the winter in colder climates. Earth Easy recommends Evergreen, but you can also make your own washer fluid. Check out this article from Ecoki for more information, and also to find out how to make your own.

VOC-free cleaning products

Earth Easy also recommends cleaning products that don't contain what are known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. They say that the wonderful "new car smell" we all love is actually outgassing of these harmful chemicals. Furthermore, those fun air fresheners you can hang from your mirror are full of phthalates, acetone and formaldehyde. These chemicals aren't good for the people in your car, and they are not good for the environment, either.

You can use Eco-Touch products to clean the inside of your car, as Earth Easy recommends. There are also many stores that sell things such as eco-friendly air fresheners.

The bottom line here, is, that even though cars themselves aren't especially "green," you can help reduce the harm they cause to the environment by using green, eco-friendly products and accessories.

Eve-Angeline Mitchell is an experienced writer and blogger, and an animal rights and welfare advocate. She has been writing about cats, from pet cats to feral cats, to the history between cats and people, and even about bit cats, on Examiner.com for four years. She is also an avid do-it-yourselfer when it comes to home improvement and enjoys learning how to do new things.

President Obama is the first president who has made a true commitment to the environment since Jimmy Carter (and before that, the Roosevelts), but I'm afraid Obama will face the same roadblocks as Carter.

More people are "green" than when Carter was in office, but to me, the majority are not green. They still drive their gas-guzzlers all over the place, and then complain about prices at the pump. Some even laugh at greenies with the age-old trite "tree hugger" sarcasm. In my home state of Michigan, a statewide referendum for alternative energy lost in a landside because the utilities falsely told residents their rates would increase. Surveys show that a majority of Americans deny that global warming even exists.

Carter was ridiculed back in the late 1970s for urging motorists to boost their gas mileage by driving 55 mph on the highways, and for wearing a cardigan on TV and literally begging Americans to dial back their winter thermostats, but he was ahead of his time. In winning the 1980 election, Ronald Reagan cast himself as the positive and patriotic candidate as opposed to Carter, the prince of pessimism, in part because of Carter's prescient environmental concerns.

And so, Reagan gave us “Morning in America,” which to me was “Mourning in America.” Reagan showed his ignorance by, among things, cynically removing the solar panels that Carter had ordered installed at the White House. (This was a man who asserted, lest we forget, that trees actually cause pollution.) But there was an inner fight in the OPEC cartel, which pushed gas prices down into the Happy Days era for a while, and so Reagan became a sort of clueless hero.

Which brings us to Obama. While unlike Carter he may have been re-elected, he still faces dim second-term prospects on green concerns. Citizens are finally starting to wake up and to realize the threat of a budgetary fiscal cliff, but few are will acknowledge an environmental cliff. In fact, the fiscal cliff will stand in the way of addressing the environmental cliff.

My discussions with friends and associates don't get me far, but here goes: "I support the vast majority of scientists who say oil and coal cause manmade global warming. You don't. But we need not debate that. Whether of not you realize the climate is getting hotter, the main point is that we're running out of both fossil fuels, oil sooner than coal, and so regardless of whether they harm the environment, you won't be able to drive your gas-guzzler or heat your McMansion at some point in the future. Do you truly believe the supplies of oil and coal are unlimited? Be real."

Obama won narrow party-line approval in 2009 for an economic stimulus that included $90 billion for green investments. That was quite an achievement, but in today's instant gratification culture, the stimulus soon was derided. Plus, the oil and coal lobbyists fed the flames of dissatisfaction.

This is why Mitt Romney perceived an opening to score debate points when he mentioned the $90 billion and claimed that half of the investments, including the infamous Solyndra solar company, had failed in bankruptcy. Here are the facts, combined from The New York Times and from Time magazine contributor Michael Grunwald, author of the stimulus review, "The New New Deal."

* Support for green companies was $16 billion. The other $74 billion went for public projects such as high-speed rail, mass transit and energy-saving home insulation.

* Among 36 investments, 33 have been successful and three failed. That's far more than half and half.

* Yes, Solyndra failed, for various reasons beyond their control, but during the Obama administration's first term, thanks to the stimulus, renewable energy sources were doubled and energy conservation was promoted. Solyndra shows why these programs are labeled high-risk. The same is true for any technology. If no risks are taken, no discoveries are achieved. In fact, a ratio of failure actually is budgeted as a safety net. Consider that Edison nearly went bankrupt before he invented the light bulb. Consider massive experimentation and research at NASA.

In fact, considering the history of NASA, space exploration was needed, but what was the point in going to the moon? Imagine if President Kennedy instead had made alternative energy a priority. Or President Eisenhower, previous during the 1950s, instead of building the oil-draining and sprawl-inducing national highway system. Or President Johnson, instead of going to Vietnam. Or President Nixon, instead of staying there. Or Reagan or President Clinton, Instead of failing to set energy taxes at times when gas prices suddenly plummeted. Or from Reagan to President Bush II, instead of adopting huge tax cuts for the rich.

The list of failed chances to invest for the environment seems almost endless, but in an HP-rooted twist on an old axiom, we can't cry over spilt oil. We must move ahead.

To push Congress to renew the 2009 investments, Obama's only hope is to find someone -- if not himself, some other charismatic figure -- to capture the nation's inspiration in the same way that the moon mission did. That's such a tough call. Carter got nowhere with his "moral equivalent of war." So personally, I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping against hope.

"Our food system is broken," says Lisa Richter, an Earthworks spokeswoman. "At the same time, people are craving to reconnect with the land, and to reconnect with their community.

"One of the big misconceptions about Earthworks is that we just grow food. We're trying to inspire food system change, to reach the root causes of hunger and poverty."

Volunteers from the neighborhood help out, including Youth Farm Stand students who receive lessons regarding what urban farmers describe as "sustainable agriculture." Eight neighborhood residents receive training stipends for regular work through the Earthworks/Capuchin Soup Kitchen partnership with the Gleaners Community Food Bank, and through the Southeast Michigan Equitable Agriculture Training program.

"It's an inspiration for us to show what is possible with small-scale agriculture, and through increasing accessibility to safe, healthy food," Richter says.

The Earthworks urban farm demonstates that green activists aren't just college students and young urban professionals. They can be found everywhere.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen was ahead of its time in 1998 when Earthworks was established. At the time, Detroit had about 60 community farm gardens. The number has exploded beyond 800, says Mayor Dave Bing. Bing says farm gardens can provide a three-way boost in food security, community spirit and economic development. Green-collar jobs most commonly are associated with alternative energy, bur urban farms also create employment potential.

"Earthworks has always been a labor of love, founded on the Franciscan vision of universal sister and brotherhood of all creation," states the Earthworks website. " We hope that this humble effort of love and desire to reconnect ourselves with the natural world we inhabit will remain part of the beacon of hope for all peoples and for all times."

It's official! As of January 1st, 2011 plastic bags have been banned in Italy and those who risk using them will face the consequences. Italy is not the first country to place bans on harmful plastic bags nor do they have the harshest penalties. In America, many supermarkets and grocery stores are starting to weed out plastic bags by giving customers incentives to bring in their own reusable shopping bags. Some stores have gone so far as placing a penalty charge onto your purchases if you use plastic instead of a "greener" option. Others have done away with bags altogether such as Auldi's stores in Pennsylvania who ring up your purchases and put them right into your cart for you to take to your car.

Parts of Australia, India, South Africa and Taiwan have also placed bans on the use of plastic bags. Environment Minister, Stefania Prestigiacomo, said of Italy's plan to ban, "It marks a step forward of fundamental importance in the fight against pollution, making us all more responsible for using and recycling. For the law to give positive results, it is necessary that all the commercial entrepreneurs, large or small, and citizens get involved and experiment with alternatives to plastic bags."

According to Planet Ark, Italians are responsible for one fifth of the bags used in Europe with over 20 billion plastic bags being used in Italy a year- that's 330 plastic bags per person. Legambiente, an Italian environmentalist lobby, believes that if everyone used 10 bio-degradable bags per year 180,000 tons of gasoline would be saved.

Tanzania seems to have the toughest penalties for shopkeepers who sell plastic bags to customers. Violators in the country can expect a six month jail sentence and a fine of 1.5 million shillings ($1,137) if they are caught. So far the penalties for shopkeepers in Italy who refuse to comply with the new ban have not been mentioned. It has been stated that shopkeepers are allowed to use plastic bags they already have in stock until their supply runs out as long as they can provide proof that they have ordered bio-degradable bags for future use.

Earth Monkeys, an online store that features baby and toddler products, has officially launched. A store featuring products for babies and toddlers isn’t all that unique but Earth Monkey’s is special in that their products are eco-friendly and made from recycled materials. Founders of Earth Monkey’s, Lindsay McPhail and Gena Hansen, are moms from Oregon who know what it is like to be on the go. Yet they still want to be environmentally conscious and make an impact on moms across the globe. Hansen explains what the mission of Earth Monkey’s is, "Sometimes it's hard to be environmentally conscious. It can be expensive to buy all eco-friendly products for your family, but we think every little bit counts! Our mission is to make it possible for any parent to make eco-friendly decisions for their household without breaking the bank or piling more work on an already hectic schedule!" A patent is currently pending for the products that Earth Monkey’s sells. These products include the “bib-in-a-bag”, “paci-pak”, and “porta-pad”, all made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The ingenuinity of the products lies not only in its eco-friendliness aspect but also in the convenience aspect. Each product folds up and fits into a lightwieght bag that can be attached easily to a diaper bag, purse or key chain making it easy to get to and easy to use. The Earth Monkey Moms have added a blog to their storefront because, “Being a mom is hard...so we want to create a place where we can share and be vulnerable...and we want you to feel comfortable doing the same!” So in addition to looking over the cool eco-friendly products, you can vent, relax and chill out with other moms.

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About Lyn

Lyn Lomasi's Founder & Community Manager of Write W.A.V.E. Media,which
spotlights writers for existing work, as well as encourages expression
while earning. Along with her amazing business & life partner, Richard Rowell, Lyn manages a freelance writer team.

She’s
your content superhero to the rescue! Lyn's been writing web content
for years & rescuing civilians from boring text since the age of
three. SEO, custom content, web design, & other content nightmares
are her dream come true!

Lyn formerly acted as Community Manager
& Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network, where she assisted writers
with community, editing, technical, & other issues. Her work’s
featured all over the web. From parenting, energy usage, pets,
homelessness, to reducing waste & more, Lyn’s committed to saving
the Earth as a whole.

For
the self-made momtrepreneur, sustainability is a way of life and a
labor of love. She’s raising her kids and pets in Colorado.Facebook:Lyn LomasiTwitter:@LynLomasi

Today,
Richard focuses on producing high-quality content to help clients
become thought leaders in their respective fields. He is also happy to
coach anyone who wants to become a better writer, and is open to help
anyone critique, edit and proof their work.He loves cats, music, and giraffes.Twitter:@richardarowell&@thewriterrichFacebook:Richard Rowell